HILLSVILLE — A Florida man is wanted in connection with the assault of a Hillsville man.
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warrant for Justin Baldwin, 33, of Hollywood, Fla.
He is charged with the malicious wounding of Dusty Dale Pickett, 53, who police say was assaulted at 612 Sylvatus Highway in Hillsville on May 23.
Investigator Donnie Spangler of the sheriff’s office reported that Pickett confronted some people in a neighbor’s yard to see why they were there, and one of them hit Pickett, fracturing his face.

Justin Baldwin

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, county deputies and officers from Hillsville Police Department responded to an assault call around 9:55 p.m. on May 23. They found Pickett suffering from severe trauma to the head. “Pickett was able to give a good description of the persons who assaulted him, before being transported to the hospital,” the press release said.
Pickett was treated and released from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Hillsville Police Department Investigator Alan Gravley and Carroll deputies developed information that led to the identification of two possible suspects. “Armed with that information, [Spangler] located one of the suspects and was able to obtain enough information” to charge Baldwin.
“The information also led local Investigators to believe that Baldwin fled back to Florida the night of the assault,” the press release said. “Investigator Spangler has been in contact with authorities in Hollywood, Fla., in reference to the active warrants on Baldwin.
Carroll Sheriff J.B. Gardner said he was very pleased with the cooperation between Carroll and Hillsville officers, “which resulted in the suspect being identified very quickly and allowed the charges to be placed.”

• Anyone with any information about this assault is asked to contact either Investigator Gravley at
(276) 728-2251 or Investigator Spangler at (276) 728-4146.